Macao SAR to further integrate into overall national development: chief executive designate

The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will continue to leverage its distinctive advantages to help the motherland connect with the Portuguese-speaking countries and other nations, and further integrate itself into the overall national development, said Sam Hou Fai, the newly elected sixth-term chief executive designate of the Macao SAR, on Sunday.

Sam made the remarks at a press conference after the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election announced that he had won the election with 394 votes in favor out of 398 valid ballots.

When elaborating on his planned efforts to push for Macao's integration into the overall national development, Sam stressed that the Macao SAR should stick to the outlined development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and help the motherland expand openness in accordance with the region's position of "one center, one platform and one base," namely a world center of tourism and leisure, an economic and trade cooperation platform for China and the Portuguese-speaking countries as well as a cultural exchange and cooperation base.

"We should make use of our advantages and give full play to the advantages of 'one country, two systems' principle in the SAR to participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, under the leadership of the central government, we should implement and develop various tasks and projects of the second phase of the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, with an open mind and reform and innovation measures. In addition, we should give full play to the advantages of the Macao SAR in connecting China with the world, especially the Portuguese-speaking countries. We should adhere to the position of 'One Center, One Platform and One Base', promote the connection between the Macao SAR and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and assist the nation in trade, finance, culture, and tourism, allowing it to use Macao as a platform to strengthen economic ties and exchanges with the Portuguese-speaking countries," said Sam.

At the news conference, the newly elected chief executive designate also said Macao is an inseparable part of the country.

Noting that especially after its return to the motherland, Macao and the country are closed linked by destiny, he said that the region's significant achievements in such fields as economy and people’s livelihood have attracted global attention, fully demonstrating the strong vitality of the "one country, two systems" principle.

"When the country is strong, Macao is prosperous. Over the past 25 years since Macao's returned to the motherland, the Special Administrative Region has faithfully implemented the 'one country, two systems'. With the strong support of the central government and the robust assistance and support of the people across the country, the Macao Special Administrative Region has made great progress in terms of politics, economy, society and people’s livelihoods," Sam said.

Macao SAR to further integrate into overall national development: chief executive designate

To meet the timeline of starting independent customs operations by the end of 2025, the government of south China's Hainan province issued a series of regulations to stipulate import and export management of Free Trade Port (FTP), with two major documents on environmental safety and medicine import put into effect recently.

To further explain the effects and scope of the two documents, the local government held press conferences on Monday and Tuesday.

The "Several Provisions on the Management of Entry Environmental Safety Access in the Hainan Free Trade Port" took effect on Wednesday, which clarified the scopes and responsibilities regarding potential environmental issues of vessels and import products.

"The document regulates the access management of special items such as hazardous waste, remanufactured products, carry-on items of entry personnel, and radioactive materials. Meanwhile, it clarifies that the storage sites for transit goods should meet environmental safety management requirements, to avoid environmental pollution," said Di Weijie, deputy director of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Hainan Province.

In addition, the administrative rule on zero-tariff import of medicines and medical devices in Hainan Free Trade Port was put into effect on Tuesday, stipulating that before Hainan FTP starts independent customs operations, medical institutions, higher medical education institutions, and pharmaceutical research institutes registered in the Hainan's Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone with independent legal status and approved eligibility can import designated pharmaceuticals and medical devices under the zero-tariff policy.

"The scope [of medicines and medical devices imported under 'zero-tariff' policy] consists of two categories: imported pharmaceuticals and medical devices already approved for registration in China, and specially licensed pharmaceuticals and medical devices for the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone," said Jia Ning, director of Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration, during the press conference.

With policy supports and related efforts like the Ever Lasting International Innovation Medicine Exhibition held in the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone, medicine and health care is expected to be a new pillar industry for Hainan.

New regulations clarify environment, medicine import issues in Hainan Free Trade Port